Rotatable display sign



April 15, 1952 R. N. MORTON 2,593,331

ROTATABLE DISPLAY SIGN Filed Dec. 9. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET .1

INVENTOR RICHARD N, MORTON ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 R. N. MORTON ROTATABLE DISPLAY SIGN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1949 INVENTOR 3| RICHARD m. MORTON ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,593,331 a RDTATIABLE msr r leN.

RidlatdN', MortomYakima, Wash.

Applicationllecember 9, 194 9, ,Scrial No.,13 l

This .iHYBHtiOIITQIatGS-IZQ signs and is particu.- larly adapted to; signs wherein the script is periodically changed and illuminated.

The primary object of my invention is, to periodically change the script of a sign, illuminating the script after the, change has been completed. This is accomplished by mounting the signs on a rotor, means being provided for re volving the rotor a predetermined amount causing one sign to disappear while another is taking its place.

While the sign and script is being changed the sign remains dark, but on completing the positioning of the sign the same is illuminated. The

' means of rotating the sign, permitting the rotor to stand still for a predetermined lengthof time, causing the sign brought into position to be displayed.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a sign having a series of signs mounted to a rotor, said rotor being sopositioned within the sign casing so that only one sign at a time can be read, but this sign can be read from both sides at the same time.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my new and improved rotary display signs.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the sign indicated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end sectional view, taken on line 3-,-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line i.-4 of Figure Figure 5 is an end sectional View taken cnline 5- 5 of Figure 2 indicating themethod oi retating the rotor.

Figure 6 is another preferred form of embodiment of my invention. This view is a side view, partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 7 is an end sectional view taken on line i-I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end sectional View taken on line 1, Qlaim. (oilin -u) 2 the set screw 3 located within the hub 4., Rotat ably mounted ontheshaftz is adrum 5. This rum.has.,.hub.s15 a d 1 an r v v n. he sa d shaft}, best illustrated in Figure 2. Slots Brun longitudinally eithe drum 5 and have trans parent, signs 9 and I0 fixedly secured thereto. These signs are spaced apart by the spacer H and secured to the flanges I2 of the, drum 5.

The signs are preferably of transparentmaterial, having lettering located thereon in the usual manner for display purposes. I do nctwish to be limited tothe system of applying the lettering-01: even thesigns, except that when a light isbrought between, the signs I desire to have the lettering read, as a, result of this light.

Supported, by the tubular shaft 2 is a fluorescent tube 3. Thlstubeis supported by the shatt 2 and provided with electrical energy in the usual manner, as, for instanc the clip It may have a terminal l5 extending into the tubular shait as.illustrated in Figure 4, said clipand tube being insulated apart by the insulating material It,; the clip I 4 conveying v electrical energy into the fluorescent tube l3,

Again; do not wish; to be limited to any particular method of mounting this tubular light, as any suitable welllknown method may be em;- ployed, except that I wish to have this light encased in theU-shaped reflector II. This reflector runsfrom one end of the signto the other. The

lower side of the reflectoris open ,as indicated at [8, Figure. 3, directing light ,from the tube l3 into the spacelflbetween the signs 9 and lll.

The cylinder or rotor 5 isrevolvedby any suitabledrivingmechanismas for instance the cranl; arm .v r e i x mqt rend d r d o mechanism within the case 2!, the detail; of which is not here shown, the crank 20 engages the pins 22, which are fixedly mounted within the hub 6 of the drum of the rotor 5. As the crank 20 revolves slowly it engages one of the pins revolving the drum a quarter of a revolution moving the display signs into alignment with the opening l8 or reflector l'l.

As these signs are moved, except when they align with the opening l8, there will be no light enter the same so that they are dark until reaching the vertical position as indicated by the sign 23. When the sign is in this position the light will be able to pass through the slot l8 of the reflector into the space l9 lighting the sign, the housing I of the sign covering the other three signs while the sign 23 is being displayed.

The sign is allowed to remain in the lighted position while the crank 20 makes a revolution and again contacting one of the pins. I do not wish to be limited to this mechanism, as other forms of intermittent drives can be employed for rotating the drum or rotor 5.

A stationary sign 24 is provided and is lighted by the fluorescent tube 25, receiving energy from .wiring not shown in the drawings.

A transformer 26 is provided in the sign for supplying this tube, as well as the fluorescent tube l3.

In the operation of the sign, as stated above, the crank 20 contacts one of the pins 22 associated with the hub 6, revolving the drum or rotor a quarter of a revolution. The slot 8 of the signs 9 and ID of the drum are moved out of alignment with the slot l8 of the reflector, darkening the said sign while being moved one revolution. The next sign coming into place remains darkened until the said slot 8 of the drum and the slot l8 of the reflector come into alignment permitting the light to reach'the space l9 between, the signs 9 and Ill.

Referring'zto Figures 6, '7 and 8, this sign con- Located on the outerv is encased in the reflector 35. The upper side of the reflector being open at 36 so that the light a energy to the fluorescent tube being supplied from the brush assemby 40, whose brushes 4| bear against the drum 39, which is preferably made of insulation and mounted to the shaft 29.

Metal segments 42 are spaced about the drum 39 and are adapted to bridge the brushes 4| I completing an electric circuit through the fluorescent tube when the signs 39 and 3| are in alignment with the fluorescent tube and its reflector 35, therefore when the signs 39 and 3| pass from this position by the rotation of the rotor there will be no light given off by the fluorescent tube 34, therefore while the signs are being rotated they will not be illuminated.

38 revolving the shaft and rotor together with I the signs periodically. The sign 43, illustrated in Figure 9, consists of a series of sign plates 44 of solid material mounted to the shaft 45, which is rotated periodically by a drive not here shown, ninety degrees, bringing the sign to the position indicated by numeral 44A in line with the reflected light rays 44B directed towards the said sign 44 by the fluorescent tubes 46. This sign also has a timing device for controlling the lighting of the tubes 46 so that they will only be lightedwhen the sign comes to the position indicated by the sign 44A.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described. it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claim. g

What I claim is: Y

-A sign, comprising a semi-cylindrical casing open at the bottom, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted in the casing, a hollow hub supported on the horizontal shaft, the hub having a series of slots in its periphery, radial hollow transparent outwardly tapering signs mounted on the periphery of the hollow hub in communication withthe slots, a hollow reflector mounted on and enclosing the shaft within the hollow hub, the

hollow reflector being open at its bottom and extending to the inner surface of the hollow hub. a source of light within the hollow reflector below the shaft and in vertical alignment with the open bottom of said reflector, and means for rotating the hub, whereby when the hub is rotated and a hollow sign reaches a vertical position below the horizontal shaft and'its open inner end registers with the bottom open end of the hollow reflector, the lamp will light up said sign.

RICHARD N. MORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: vI

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 649,304 Hasselbusch' May 8, 1900 796,937 Scheel Aug. 8, 1905 1,175,841 Taylor Mar. 14, 1916 1,846,112 James Feb. 23, 1932 1,859,813 Wilhelm May 24, 1932 

